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Effective July 1, 1998, the State of Montana Board of PE & LS has implemented mandatory
Continuing Education
for all licensees in the field of engineering and surveying. Each licensee is required to accrue 30 hours (PDHs) per cycle. A cycle is 2 years, beginning July 1, 1998 to June 30, 2000 and running thereafter. The MARLS Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Committee evaluates and recommends for approval/disapproval continuing education activities.
Land Surveyors may wonder what purpose does the committee serve? Prior to the requirement of continuing education by the Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (MBPELS), the MARLS Board of Directors felt there was a need to review and approve/disapprove continuing education activities for land surveyors. More recently, MBPELS chose not to participate in the MARLS review and approval process. An informational publication distributed in February 1998 by MBPELS stated "any programs, workshops, conferences, or courses that are approved by another Engineering/Land Surveying State Licensure Board or MSE or MARLS will be accepted by Montana." Therefore, land surveyors who attend a continuing education program which has been reviewed and approved by MARLS can be assured that the professional development hours meet continuing education requirements.
The committee has solicited several presenters of continuing education programs for submission of the application forms. This forms a pool of programs for future use by Metnet and MARLS conferences. A database is being kept by the Administrative Secretary that contains pertinent information. Should anybody have questions regarding the Continuing Professional Competency Committee or request a copy of the database, please contact
Robert Rux, CPC Chairperson.
A licensee can earn the necessary PDHs by completing correspondence courses, video tapes, televised seminars/metnets, in-house courses, workshops, conferences, etc. One area that will not be accepted is the area of self direct study and research. The Board felt that this area is often part of an employees job description and should not be used. The licensee has the responsibility to ensure that the continuing education activity being utilized meets the requirements of the Administrative Rules of Montana.
The licensee will be required to submit a reporting form which includes a summary of credits/PDHs as well as a listing of the particular details of the continuing education activities. Supporting documentation (receipts, transcripts, course outlines) cannot be submitted due to the lack of filing space with the state; however it will be the licensee's responsibility to maintain and keep on file this information for a period of 3 years in case the Board audits their form. A random sample of 5 to 15 percent of licensees are expected to be audited for compliance annually or biannually.
Copies of the Administrative Rules, CE information flyer and/or reporting form may be obtained by contacting the Board Office at the following addresses:
Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Log onto the following website for MT Board of PE and LS exam information.
Web Page:
Montana Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
E-mail:
Todd Boucher - Investigator, Professional & Occupational Licensing Division
or:
MT Board of PE & LS Phone: (406) 841-2368 Fax: (406) 841-2309
MONTANA CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY - LAWS AND RULES
MONTANA STATE BOARD OF PE AND LS LAWS AND RULES 2003
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